Table of Contents
Introduction
Discrimination has always been a concept that is mentioned through every field of study. This is no different for social theorists because the theories that are found to explain this term comes in many different forms. For instance, there is dysfunctions and non-functions, the division of race within America, and the intensity of discrimination experienced by women. By introducing the history of how these theories were derived, it is explained how discrimination and racial issues in today’s society is perceived in the eyes of a social theorist.
Social Functionalism
The first theory to be discussed is the structural functionalism theory. Although this theory was founded by Talcott Parson, one of Parson’s students, Robert K. Merton, expanded the insights of the theory. Furthermore, Merton introduced the concept of dysfunctions to explain how society has the ability to adapt and adjust (Ritzer 95). This term helps explain how discrimination adjust the reality of the people who experiences it. For example, society can be fully functional for someone who elicits discrimination upon another. This individual seems to experiences no negative consequences, but for the person on the receiving end of discrimination, now has an altered version of reality.
This means they are receiving new problems that make living a bit more difficult, yet nothing is done because society can still function with discrimination going on. (Ritzer 95) To go along with, Merton pointed out that discrimination against females are functional for a males because they do not experience those particular societal adjustments, but some dysfunction does occur along the way. Meaning males also suffer from their discrimination because such an act adversely affects those who discriminate against others, and by keeping vast numbers of people underproductive, and the likelihood of social conflict increases. For example, in an office that is led by a male figure who tends to discriminate against his female employees, will be able to continue not being personally affected by discrimination, but will experience dysfunction within his office.
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This is because conflict between his male employees and his female employees has been increased from ongoing discriminatory actions. Finally, Merton thought that some of our social systems can be eliminated, and this ultimately opens the way to a meaningful social change. Merton suggested that we could continue to exist and even improve our society if we eliminated discrimination. (Ritzer 98) This is possible because discrimination is not a vital concept of our social interaction between one another to change any effects on how we interact overall.
W.E.B Du Bois: Racism In Modern Society
The second theory to be discussed is the collective theories that W.E.B Du Bois introduced to explain the division between races in modern society. Du Bois argued that some races are not superior to others, but some racial differences are physical and are found in cultural, spiritual, and intellectual forms. These differences show the racial groups sociohistorical development. (Ritzer 68) This argument is significant because it explains to people that we are only different because of our sociohistorical backgrounds. Meaning although we are different culturally and spiritually, or even intellectually, we all are still human beings and we all deserve to be treated equally.
Du Bois recognized that there was obvious separation and discrimination amongst some racial groups. He called this separation the veil. Du Bois used this metaphor to explain the clear barrier between the blacks and whites in the United States. He described this separation, or veil, as a “thin, porous material, that allows each race can see each other through, and yet it still separates the races.” (Ritzer 68) This term is so applicable to today’s society in the United States. Although, now a days people are aware of this separation nothing is done about it.
No one speaks about that part of our society unless certain events transpire. Furthermore, there are certain races that still feel even though they know discrimination is frowned upon, they have the right to think it is okay to separate themselves because of the amendments imposed in our constitution. In contrast with this viewpoint of some Americans, Du Bois argues that no one has a superior race to another. Another concept that was introduced in Du Bois’ theories was the concept of double consciousness. Double consciousness was used to describe the social psychological consequences of the veil, and it explains how African-Americans were both insiders and outsiders, or what Du Bois called outsiders within the social world.
Ultimately, African Americans are not fully except accepted, within a social group, and this concept describes the feeling that African-Americans experience when they are aware that they cannot act a certain way, or say certain things to be excepted into a group of a different race. This is where Du Bois gets the idea that African-Americans have to split into two different people to be excepted into society.
Contemporary Feminist Views
Our final theory discusses the feminist approach to discrimination. Feminist theories cover many topics involving inequality and oppression. Some of these types of theories are gender differences, gender inequality, and structural oppression. For the purposes of this paper the only concept discussed will be the structural oppression approach to discrimination. Focusing more in debt to the structural oppression approach we find the intersectionality theory. (Ritzer 241) Furthermore, this theory explains the varying intensity of discrimination that women experience from different aspects of today’s society.
Ultimately, the intensity is control by characteristics such as social class, race, global location, sexual preference, and age. (Ritzer 241) For example, a middle-aged, straight, white women would not experience as much oppression or discrimination as a young, bisexual, black, female would in their workplace. The intensity of discrimination can be more severe for younger individuals than older individuals, and this might be because older people feel that younger individuals are easier targets to be controlled than older individuals. The concept of power is at play here, and people who are young and new to certain job industries are viewed to have less power and job experience so they are believed to be easily manipulated.
Conclusion
In summary, Merton viewed discrimination as dysfunctional for everyone involved, and how societal reality is changed once an individual experiences it. Secondly, W.E.B. Du Bois published many studies on racial issues. Du Bois believed that your race does not make you superior to another race, and sought to explain the separation between the races of the United States. Du Bois did this by coining the terms “the veil” and double consciousness. Furthermore, the contemporary views of the feminist helped explain discrimination from a women’s point of view. This paper focuses on the intersectionality theory outside of all other theories to be discussed in the feminist views of discrimination.
The intersectionality theory states that the intensity of discrimination depends on where you are in life. This theory explains that younger individuals experiences more intense cases of discrimination than a older individual would. These theories are among the few found that covers discrimination and racial issues within the field of sociology. By introducing the history of these theories it is explained how discrimination and racial issues are perceived in the eyes of social theorists.
References
- Social Functionalism, Structural Functionalism, and Conflict Theory – Social Theory Applied
- Postmodern Feminism: Critical Social Theory or Consumerist Calling Card? – Rhino Institute
- Feminism, Second Wave – ThoughtCo.
- Structural functional theory revisited: cautioning the use of the concept of dysfunctionality – U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Structural Functionalism: Definition, Examples, and Significance – The Balance
- Feminist Perspectives on Sex, Gender, and Intersectionality (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
